All the Way into Darkness, in Deathwish Valley, Ranran Watches the Battle, Li Xian's Disgust

Li Xian's journey to the Deathwish Valley Death was fraught with difficulties. The Valley of Deathwish Valley had an extraordinary background and was shrouded in mystery. Ordinary people and servants alike were unaware of its location, or had never even heard of it. Li Xian was quick-witted and intelligent. When one path failed, he would try another, his thinking clear and sharp. Relying on methods such as "Hair Falling, Roots Taking Hold," he managed to glean some information.

Debt slaves have two opportunities to enter and leave Jade City each month, but they can only go directly to "Clear Peace Tower" to collect their assigned tasks. Wearing Cage Bracelet on their wrists, they must not wander around haphazardly, as this will inevitably attract the attention of patrolling soldiers. As long as they successfully complete their tasks, their debt will be reduced. Li Xian thought to himself, "This huge debt, by ordinary means, will take forty years to repay. Since I have decided to take an unconventional path, I cannot act in an ordinary way."

The next morning, under the pretext of going to "Clear Peace Tower" to receive an important mission, he entered Jade City. In reality, he wandered around the city, observed its situation, and took the opportunity to investigate the situation of "Deathwish Valley".

Li Xian wandered for several miles, still at a loss. But he gradually noticed that the patrolling soldiers were glancing at him. He knew that if he wandered around for a little longer, he would be sent back to Jade Pillar Mountain. But he had gained very little and was unwilling to leave like this.

On a sudden inspiration, he tied a strand of hair to a stone, waited for the right moment, and shot the stone high up, either onto the eaves of a tall building or the top of a tree canopy.

In this way, although the person had left, his eyes and ears remained in the city, with excellent vision and keen hearing. He remembered the appearance of the "Willing-Death Cliff Pass," which was a dark black jade pendant. This item could be worn as an accessory or to indicate one's status. Therefore, some people who obtained the ticket would carry it with them.

With this multitasking, several days passed, and they did indeed discover several ticket holders. They all traveled in carriages and were extremely wealthy. However, their methods were limited, and even though they recognized the ticket holders, they still could not know anything about the "Deathwish Valley".

However, it can be boldly inferred that "Deathwish Valley" should be located outside the city. All those with passes should head towards the outside of the city.

Ultimately at a loss, Li Xian calmed his mind and resolved to plan for the long term, doing everything in his power to gradually find the "Deathwish Valley". Several days passed, and by observing the hairs in the city, he gradually made another discovery. Jade City did not have a curfew, but after nightfall, the mountains covered the area, concealing dangers, and ordinary people and officials would never easily leave the city.

However, every night, starting at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), one could often see people leaving the city, all dressed in black, wearing hoods, and carrying black bags. For the first day or two, one could find a reason to explain it, but the same thing happened on the third and fourth days.

The strange phenomenon aroused Li Xian Li Xian's suspicion. He then recalled that he had vaguely heard of a "Little Ghost Market" in the nearby Densewood Forest. The market would open at 1-3 AM and close at 3-5 Yin Hour every day. It was a melting pot of all sorts of people.

Jiang Huchen often secretly hoarded "rare jade specimens" and, through various means, sold them at the Little Ghost Market to make money. Jade City was an exquisite behemoth, but it was inevitably plagued by parasites who devoured it everywhere. However, water that is too clear has no fish, Jade City, though prosperous and splendid, could not bear the burden of these corrupt individuals.

Li Xian had considerable experience in the martial world and knew that such areas might have informants. His method of eavesdropping and spying, relying on his "Hair Falling, Roots Taking Hold," was ultimately a clumsy one.

Li Xian thought to himself, "My karmic debts from past lives are enormous. Now that I've heard about the ' Deathwish Valley,' I must seize the opportunity. My hair can act as eyes and ears, but it's difficult to read minds. Information ultimately requires others to speak up before I can hear it. If they don't speak, no matter how long I probe with my hair, I'll find no clues. Rather than waiting passively, I should take the initiative."

Following the clues, we found a direction. By subtly inquiring about the location of Little Ghost Market "Ghost Market," we discovered that it was actually not far away.

Beside Jade Pillar Mountain, there once stood a Cave-Bottom Grotto ". It was originally a mine where jade and stone were mined year after year, hollowing out the base of the mountain, which caused the ground to collapse and sink into a large pit.

The pit was secluded, not too far from Jade City. Gradually, people wanted to meet there to secretly trade goods. It eventually evolved into Little Ghost Market stronghold. Legend has it that there is an even larger Ghost Market within Jade City.

Li Xian was in debt and had difficulty traveling. However, he had been inquiring about "Wang Huchen," "Qiu Lie," and "Biao De" every day and knew their secrets. He naturally knew that the three had been befriending the guards and forming a relationship.

Li Xian impersonated Qiu Lie's subordinate and used clever words to deceive him. He then borrowed a few taels of silver from Zhang Cun to bribe officials and give gifts.

They could indeed come and go freely, and based on the information they had gathered, they found the "Little Ghost Market" hidden in the Densewood Forest forest.

There was a secluded, narrow cave passage. It was dark and gloomy; one had to walk for several miles before gradually hearing human voices. At the bottom of the pit were various stalls selling all sorts of odds and ends. From elixirs, Heavenly Crafted Wonders, and fine wines and delicacies, to women's undergarments, stockings, and items for daughters and children—

Isolated from the world, bizarre and wonderful things are laid bare before your eyes.

The place was a chaotic mix of people, with a sinister atmosphere. Li Xian observed for a long time and spotted a "talkative merchant"—a man with a large mouth and wide nose who made a living by selling information. Li Xian slowly approached, and before the talkative merchant could even speak, he conjured up five hands and demanded money.

Observing the merchant's simple attire, Li Xian took out the fifty coins he had borrowed and handed them over. The talkative merchant succinctly replied, "Ask."

Li Xian immediately asked, "Deathwish Valley?" The talkative merchant remained silent and held up five more hands. Li Xian then offered him fifty more coins, but he shook his head and remained silent. Li Xian then offered more, but he still shook his head and remained silent.

After all the money had been handed over, totaling five hundred coins, the talkative merchant still shook his head and remained silent. Li Xian frowned, about to grab the money and leave. The talkative merchant immediately protected the money, saying, "This news should be worth five taels of silver."

Li Xian sneered, "I'm not going to play along." He subtly exerted force in his hand. Seeing Li Xian's formidable strength and realizing his money was about to be taken back, the talkative merchant quickly said, "Money is like water, once spilled, it's gone forever. I can't tell you all the details about the Valley of Deathwish Valley. But you can ask me one question."

Li Xian immediately inquired about the location of the Deathwish Valley. The talkative merchant pointed north, and after traveling another ten miles or so, two mountains could be seen, namely "Grave Mountain" and "Stele Mountain." The area enclosed by these two mountains was the Deathwish Valley.

Some powerful figures built multi-story buildings and high platforms in the valley, turning it into an ideal place for deadly battles. The more prosperous, glamorous, and well-dressed the Jade City becomes, the more people seek primal thrills.

Deathwish Valley, Deathwish Valley —this place is neither deliberately hidden nor deliberately publicized. Those who are destined to know of this place will naturally come to know of it, while those who are not destined will never be able to come into contact with it in their lifetime.

The gossipy merchant weighed his money in his hand and said, "Take it or leave it. I see you're wearing Cage Bracelet; you must be a debtor. You must have heard about the Deathwish Valley from somewhere. But I advise you to continue paying off your debts steadily so you can go there."

"If becoming a debt slave is to suppress one's dignity to the lowest degree, then stepping into the Deathwish Valley is to transform into a ferocious beast."

Li Xian hesitated, "The Deathwish Valley is only ten miles away, not far at all. Since we've come out, how can we not go and explore it first? The Deathwish Valley, the Deathwish Valley —this place is definitely not ordinary; my journey there will be fraught with danger. But so be it—"

Every step of the way has been like this.

With a calm Heart Lake and deep contemplation, he decided not to return to his wooden dwelling that night, but instead went straight to explore the "Grave Mountain" and "Stele Mountain".

Heavenly Crafted Wonders; the Cage Bracelet and the Jade City seemed to be in perfect harmony, as if it wanted to escape. It was as hot as iron, with silver threads piercing deep into the flesh, causing blood to flow from the wrist.

Li Xian understood. "It's no wonder that countless debt slaves are willing to spend their entire lives repaying their debts rather than risk escaping. This Cage Bracelet seems to sense my the Unseen, piercing my flesh and constantly drawing blood. I am restricted by it and cannot Blood Solidification and Aperture Closure. If I insist on moving forward, I will only bleed to death. Even if I don't bleed to death, the bloodstains along the way will soon be Wei Xun of Jade City. At that time, weakened by blood and exhaustion, how can I resist?"

Having just experienced the power of Jade City, even though he knew the location of "Deathwish Valley," the distance made it seem like an insurmountable chasm. Suddenly, Li Xian spotted some hemostatic herbs along the mountain path. He quickly picked them, chewed them into powder, and applied the powder to the area around his bracelet. This provided some relief.

Borrowing the medical skills of the "Ghost Doctor" and the "Wen Caishang" lineage, he sought immediate medical help to Blood Slowing his energy. With the aid of "Consumption," his blood flow decreased by forty percent. Li Xian secretly hesitated, wondering if he could withstand the "Deathwish Valley" before his blood completely drained. However, the nature of the Deathwish Valley remained unknown; even if he managed to withstand it, what would become of him?

Li Xian steadied himself. "Since the Cage Bracelet has already acted strangely, even if I obediently return to the wooden residence, the Clear Peace Tower constables will surely come looking for me. For now, no matter what, I must go all the way until the very end."

Slow down your breathing, Turbidity Transport as you go, try to nourish your blood, and eat any blood-nourishing herbs you see along the way.

After walking several miles, he began to feel dizzy and was about to faint, his face turning extremely pale. The Cage Bracelet was inlaid with silver wire, a special material that helped with the flow of energy. It was a miracle that Li Xian had managed to walk several miles despite all his efforts. An ordinary martial artist would have fainted and collapsed by the roadside long ago.

But Li Xian had survived the near-death experience at Dongran Lake. Now, facing this perilous situation, he could overcome it by gritting his teeth and persevering. His will was as firm as iron, and diligence was rewarded by Heaven Rewards Diligence. His sleeves were stained with blood, and he was too lazy to wipe away the bloodstains along the way. He walked for several miles along the mountain road. Because he was close to the Deathwish Valley, there were few soldiers and generals searching for him.

The "Cage Bracelet" is inlaid with two "Jade Core". The components are exquisite and can sense changes in the region and affect the human body.

Li Xian was weak and exhausted, his Blood Qi greatly depleted. But he persevered by sheer willpower and saw a building. It was entirely black, cast against the mountain. Behind the building was a black gate, about forty-four zhang high and forty-four zhang wide, towering majestically. Within the black gate were two black dragon heads, lifelike, with spirits hidden in their eyes. Legend has it that although the dragon heads were cast from strange iron, the dragon eyes were genuine.

That place is known as "Deathwish Valley".

There was a queue in front of the building, about several dozen people, with different expressions: some were trembling with fear, some were excited and expectant, and some were bewildered. At the very front of the queue was an old man registering the names of those who came.

The Deathwish Valley – all who enter the valley voluntarily gamble with their lives. Some, having reached a dead end, naturally learn of the Deathwish Valley and wish to try their luck. Others are targeted by "persuasive suicide hunters," who inform them of the Deathwish Valley's location and either persuade or lure them there.

Those lined up included merchants, beggars, women, children, scholars, and teenagers—a diverse group, each with their own unique appearance and circumstances.

Li Xian was delighted and joined the end of the line, observing quietly. Those in front of him all turned to look at him, seeing him covered in blood and filth, extremely weak, and left in fear.

The sky was pitch black, and the moon was waning. The pale moonlight shone on the mountain wall, making it appear eerie and cold. At this moment, the silver threads of the "Cage Bracelet" retracted, and the debt amount suddenly became "one hundred and eleven thousand taels" of silver.

It turned out that Jade City treated the debtors as his own possessions. The debtors fled, and with every drop of blood they shed, they owed even more money. Li Xian's Blood Qi were depleted, but he relied entirely on his strong physical body and the interconnectedness of his internal organs to hold on and not collapse. Now that he had stopped, the Cage Bracelet did not sense any change in position, thus preventing it from bleeding any further.

Soon they arrived at Li Xian's place. As usual, the old man inquired about his identity and learned that Li Xian was a debt slave. He kept looking up and scrutinizing him, making "tsk tsk" sounds. He noticed that Li Xian's face was covered in blood, making it difficult to see his true appearance.

The old man thought to himself, "I've seen many people going to their deaths, but—this is truly the first time I've seen someone like this."

The old man clicked his tongue in surprise and asked, "Since you are a debt slave, how do you know about this place?" Li Xian calmly replied, "It was by chance."

The old man said, "This is the first time I've encountered such a thing. A debt slave entering the Deathwish Valley —have you thought it through? If you honestly repay your debts, you might still have a chance at freedom. But if you enter the Deathwish Valley— "

The old man chuckled, "If you think you can easily deal with the Deathwish Valley by relying on your cultivation level— the First Martial Realm, where the body Mortal Transcendence and the five senses become more acute; the Second Martial Realm, where the bones undergo a transformation and the strength becomes greater—you'd be sorely mistaken."

"In the Deathwish Valley, it is not uncommon for martial artists to die at the hands of mortals."

Li Xian knew this was a perilous situation, but his mind was made up. He thought to himself, "Though I don't want to die, I'm prepared to perish." He then said, "I've thought it through."

The old man said, "Strange indeed, this is the first time I've encountered debt slaves involved. The nearest mine is at least six miles of mountain road away, it's truly remarkable that you could travel here. I've never seen anything like it before. There's no precedent for this. Oh well, oh well—"

Seeing Li Xian half-covered in blood, yet still unable to suppress his lust, he thought that "Deathwish Valley" was in dire need of someone like him, and laughed, "So be it, so be it!"

Li Xian remained calm and composed, knowing only that he had embarked on this path and there was no turning back; he had no choice but to continue down this dark road.

The old man said, "Now that you've entered the Deathwish Valley, you'll become a disciple of death. Choose a title." Li Xian asked curiously, "Why is that?"

The old man said, "The first thing to do upon entering the Deathwish Valley is to give up your life, including your name. If you can survive, the benefits will be immeasurable. If you cannot survive, then you will die like this."

Li Xian thought to himself, "That makes sense. Since I'm choosing a code name, I need to think of one that represents my past martial arts skills." After a moment's thought, he said, "My code name is 'Guilt Sword '."

Shame is the devil in one's heart. The word "shame" contains. "Sole-Self Heart Technique, the Wraith Spear, and the Divine-Ghost Malevolent Garment." The word "sword" contains the Waning Sun Blood-Draining Sword —a concise summary of what he has learned. Moreover, Li Xian has always sought only "no shame in his heart, no regrets after making a move," meaning that he is resolute in his decision Deathwish Valley and will never regret it.

As long as one has no regrets, the sword will have no regrets; if one's heart has no regrets, even if one enters the Yellow Springs, one can face it calmly. Guilt Sword, Guilt Sword, is indeed a sword without regrets. Before the "Deathwish Valley," Li Xian's State of Mind reached a new level, exuding a unique aura.

The old man looked at the young man several times and felt that he had a special demeanor and an indescribable charm. He said, "The Cage Bracelet has already been put into use. I will stop using it for you for now." He gently turned the jade bracelet.

The silver thread was retracted into the bracelet.

The old man waved his hand, and the constable beside him led Li Xian into the Deathwish Valley. The constable was dressed in black, with a dignified and imposing presence, suggesting he came from an distinguished background.

The constable, leading the way, said, "Those who enter the Deathwish Valley are mostly nearing the end of their lives. Your blood loss is too great, making things even more difficult. You likely won't survive the first battle, but there are some rules I need to inform you of."

"Deathwish Valley, Deathwish Valley —those who come here are all after money. Each fight, if you win, you get three hundred taels of silver. If you lose, you're lucky to survive."

Li Xian asked, "Only three hundred taels of silver?" The constable stopped and said, "Three hundred taels isn't enough?"

Li Xian said, "Three hundred taels is certainly not a small amount." In the past, five hundred coins could buy a life. A single life-or-death battle could yield three hundred taels, which was naturally a considerable sum. However, in this situation, it was merely a drop in the ocean. He would need to win three hundred battles to fully repay the debt. However, each battle involved life and death, and although Li Xian was quite confident, he still needed to be cautious about the three hundred life-or-death battles.

The constable glanced at the Cage Bracelet and said, "You risked your life to come here, surely to pay off your debt. You're quite something, managing to owe such a large sum. It's not easy for ordinary martial artists or commoners to owe such a large amount." He shook his head slightly, already certain that Li Xian was doomed.

He then added, "Since you asked, I might as well tell you a thing or two. If we win, the three hundred taels will be a gift from the Deathwish Valley. However, if the lords in the stands above are pleased with the spectacle, they might just give you some extra gold, silver, and valuables, which would be more than three hundred taels."

Therefore--

The constable laughed and said, "The victor, in order to win the reward from above, will do everything in their power to curry favor. As for how to do so—you'll find out in time. Either follow suit, or you'll suffer the consequences."

They then passed through a long, dark, damp, and oppressively lit corridor. As Li Xian ventured deeper, he felt that his Qi Lake was calm, and no matter how he tried to manipulate it, he could not stir up any waves.

Originally, "Grave Mountain" and "Tomb Hill" were two Jade Core. The pavilions and buildings constructed using the mountain's natural features, including the dueling platform, can be seen as components. Together, they form a Heavenly Crafted Wonders; Deathwish Valley.

Stepping into it, one finds that the many martial principles it contains make martial arts difficult to apply. Stripped of their embellishments, only bloodlust and bestiality remain.

The constable said, "Code name: Guilt Sword. This is your jade token. Zero wins, zero losses. Hold it well. There will be a death match tomorrow. There is a screen in your cell. Remove the screen; there is a hole through which you can watch the fight."

"According to the rules of the Deathwish Valley, all newcomers to the valley can watch the first three death matches free of charge to learn as much experience as possible. After that, if they want to continue watching matches, they need to spend 150 taels of silver each time."

"Furthermore, healing medicines and weapons all require money to purchase. Let me tell you in advance, the clans of the Deathwish Valley sometimes bestow Essence Treasure upon their descendants to vie for by you, the Death Stalkers. In this way, through your deaths and injuries, you will learn the nobility of your Lineage and understand how hard-won these treasures are. Don't feel resentful, after all, this is also a way to obtain Essence Treasure!"

It's no exaggeration to say we should be extremely grateful.

Li Xian's cell, "361," was quite spacious, with a bed, a wooden table, and an open area where he could practice his martial arts. There was a screen inlaid with a jade plaque on the back wall, which could be pried open. Behind it was a small hole offering a view of a deathmatch arena.

Li Xian retrieved the jade pendant, tied it to his waist, and sat on the bed, feeling a wave of weakness wash over him. It was already dawn, and the hour of Mao (5-7 AM) had arrived. Li Xian gazed into the distance, thinking, "Clear Peace Tower should have sent someone to look for me by now. Now that I've entered the Deathwish Valley, I have nothing to do with them anymore. I've lost too much blood; my most urgent task is to rest!"

He immediately sat cross-legged, Turbidity Transport, and nourish his blood and body. Li Xian was depleted of blood and qi, suffering great loss. If not for his strong organs and robust body, he would have fainted and bled to death long ago. At this moment, nourishing his blood and body has provided some recovery, but the situation is not optimistic.

About half an hour later, a bailiff struck a gong, the sound echoing in all directions. Li Xian knew that a deadly battle had begun. Suppressing his weakness, he embedded the jade tablet into the wall. Then he pried open the cover and looked through the eyehole at the "Death Duel Arena."

The stage was spotless, shining brightly in the sunlight. Due to the limited angle, the upper stands could not be seen, but judging from the cheers and applause, there were quite a few spectators.

Before long, two people emerged from either side. One was dressed in a scholar's robe, looking refined, but his eyes were bloodshot, and he appeared as fierce as a beast. The other had a bare chest, a thick beard, and a very rugged appearance.

The scholar was originally a candidate for the imperial examination in Jade City, but he failed for ten years and was looked down upon by others. fortuitous opportunity chance, he learned of the location of "Deathwish Valley" and entered the valley in a daze. By this time, he had already experienced several battles. The burly man was a pig butcher who changed his appearance to participate in Deathwish Valley in order to gain wealth and glory.

Jade City 'Deathwish Valley, in order to provoke bloodlust and ruthlessness, usually arranges for those of similar strength to fight each other. But this first death match showed no trace of martial arts whatsoever. The scholar used a long staff, and the butcher used a short knife.

The two probed at each other, one poking with a long stick, the other slashing with a short knife. Neither dared to make a move, their actions comical and laughable.

But ironically, the sense of urgency and despair that ordinary citizens, bystanders, feel as they step onto a deadly path is more captivating than the fight itself.

The butcher was skilled at slaughtering pigs, but his knife skills were mediocre. The two men started by striking with sticks and slashing with knives, which escalated from initial probing to a full-blown fight. Eventually, they abandoned their weapons and began to fight with their teeth and hands, grappling together.

Suddenly the scholar gained the upper hand, pinning the butcher to the ground and attacking him with his fists and claws. Suddenly the butcher gained the upper hand, grabbing the scholar's neck and pressing his head firmly to the ground, scraping his face raw and blood gushing out.

The cheers grew even louder. Only ruthlessness, bestiality, and murderous intent remained in their eyes—everything was driven by instinct. The scholar bit off the butcher's ear, and the butcher smashed the scholar's teeth.

Absurd and cruel, ugly and pitiful. The scholar was incredibly lucky; he accidentally touched the fallen dagger and plunged it into the butcher's chest. The butcher clung to life, but could no longer get up.

The outcome was decided. The scholar, his face covered in blood, lay on the ground, panting heavily. Li Xian thought the battle was over and it was about to end. But after catching his breath for a moment, the scholar picked up his dagger again and stabbed the butcher fiercely.

The scholar, like a wild beast, continued his relentless attack even after the butcher was dead. The butcher seemed oblivious to the scholar's motives, his actions not so much an expression of hatred, but rather a pleading wagging of his tail. After several moments, a gold coin fell onto the dueling arena. The scholar quickly picked it up and resumed his ferocious stabbing of the hunter.

But the spectators in the stands had already left.

So this scholar was doing this to curry favor with the spectators in the stands. He had won his first duel by accident. To vent his anger, he kicked the corpse twice, and a spectator rewarded him with three gold coins.

From then on, whenever the scholar won a great victory, he would go to great lengths to torment the defeated, hoping to receive a reward. However, the tastes of the onlookers varied; sometimes some liked it, and sometimes no one did. The rewards he received varied in amount.

The scholar knelt down and kowtowed, begging for another reward.

Li Xian thought to himself, "So that's what the bailiff meant by flattery. The scholar went to great lengths to please, abandoning his humanity, all for a single gold coin. Since I entered this world, I've seen mostly treacherous people. The rich are heartless, and the poor are contemptible."

He watched three shows in one day, sitting cross-legged in meditation to nourish his blood and body. Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and today it was Li Xian's turn to perform.

Although Li Xian's blood was weak, his eyesight was sharp. Following the guide's directions, he arrived at a Death Duel Arena. The sunlight was blinding, and the moment he stepped on it, a series of powerful sounds swept over him.

Li Xian looked up, wearing a mask. His gaze wandered over the stands, and soon caught sight of a figure, aloof and independent. Li Xian sneered inwardly, "What ' Jade Maiden'? In the end, she's no different from the lord of Jade City. The 'Jade' in ' Jade Maiden ' refers to the 'Jade' of Jade City." He already felt utterly disgusted by this woman.

On the other hand, Zhao Zaizai's situation was quite the opposite.